I'm going in to discuss the VSG with my GP on October 4th.

I'm 5" 0.5 inches and I weigh 286 pounds and my BMI is just over 56. I would like to get down to 150 - 140 lbs although it says a healthy weight for me would be 125.

I'd like to make sure that this is the right surgery for me so if you can share your success with me that would be great. Especially if you started out with similar stats.

Thanks

I started out with my band at 270lbs, the day of my revision 263lb, and today I'm at 124lbs. I hit my goal of 150 within 6.5 months with VSG. I stuck to my guidelines, and took that window of opportunity to really change my relationship with food. I attribute a lot of my success to the fact that I lost all my physical hunger. With the band, I'd eat and 1-2 hours later I was hungry again. But, with VSG, I just ate because I knew I had to not because I was starving all the time.

I'm 5'2" so my start BMI was 50, and when I had my revision it was 49. Our stats are really close, and if I can do it, so can you.

I never really imagined getting below goal. I did continue to lose weight sporadically after I hit goal, and it seems my body settled around 120-125. I've been easily maintaining my weight, and literally eat anything I want. Portions are still small, I still focus on my Protein count, but I don't deprive myself of any particular food or food type. It's completely different being in maintenance, and it's easy to make the best choice when it comes eating.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to shoot me a message on here. I've sent you a friend request, and you can view my photo album and blog on here for a more play by play guide to my journey.

Best wishes, and good luck with your sleeve.

I knew I needed some drastic intervention. I had resisted bariatric surgery for years, though. I didn't like the idea of the dumping and the repositioning of the intestine with the Gastric Bypass and I didn't like the idea of a foreign object in my body with the Lap-Band. But finally last year I made the decision to go a head with the surgery. Thankfully, my insurance company required a 6 month medically supervised diet before they'd approve me. Although I was bummed out that I had to wait, I'm so happy. While on my diet, my insurance company started to approve the VSG. It was like a dream come true! I had read up about it in Dr. Davis' book, The Expert's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery. It seemed exactly like what I wanted, but I couldn't afford to self-pay. Having to wait for my surgery was the best thing ever.

I love my sleeve. I like that I've got a great tool to help me loose weight and that one day I'll be able to partake in the occasional bite of dessert without having to worry about dumping syndrome. I like that I'll be able to absorb all of the Vitamins and minerals from the things I eat and not have to worry about getting Iron infusions every couple of weeks (like my friend and my cousin who both had gastric bypass). I also love that the part of my stomach that was left behind isn't stretchy like what they leave behind with the gastric bypass. Because of that, I don't have to worry as much about a pouch that can stretch in time.

Of course, I still take my mult-Vitamin everyday and I will always watch my portions. Bariatric surgery is not a magic pill. I still have to do a lot on my part to be successful.

I hope this helps.

AniO

I started out weighing 300 pounds Bmi 46, around April. I talked to my Dr. About the Gastic Sleeve. I jumped thru all the hoops and had the surgery on July 23rd 2010, I was at 285 pounds. Today I'm at 217.7 pounds 2 months and 3 days out. I thank God for all he has done for me. THIS WAS THE BEST THING FOR ME. I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST. I CAN EAT ANYTHING I LIKE BUT IN SMALL PORTION.